WARANGAL, APRIL 08, 2024: Prof G Haragopal, retired from Hyderabad Central University, has welcomed the Congress party election manifesto promising allocation of 15 per cent of budget to the education sector.
Participating in a symposium on “Status and strengthening of higher education in Telangana” organized by Kakatiya University Retired Teachers Association (KURTA) at the University Senate hall on Monday, Mr Haragopal said that the weakening public sector education and universities began to happen with advent of globalization and WTO entangling the developing countries. It was the result of an ideological shift and education turned into a market good, he stated.
The yesteryear’s ideology of society providing education to individual and individual in turn serving the society is to be re-established and the conscious community of teachers should work hard in this direction. He expressed hope that Professor Kodandaram will be able to convince the Congress government to strengthen universities.
Professor M Kodanadaram, TJS founder, pointed out that there is a strong desire on part of the students to study, learn and settle in a career but the education system and universities are not in a position to provide him with the resources required. “It is because of unbridled growth of private educational institutions and weakening of universities which started during late 80s and early nineties. He urged that the new government has listen to the debates and opinions of teachers, consider them seriously and take steps to strengthen universities by more budget allocation and filling up the teaching vacancies.
Prof. Limbadri, chairman of TSCHE, presented few statistics regarding gender wise, caste wise and urban rural variations in Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) and pointed out that Telangana fares better at 41% than India average at 27%. He revealed the central funding to state universities in terms of grants, projects and scholarships and fellowships is totally stopped.
Professor A. Sadanandam President, KURTA presided over the event and introduced the theme of the symposium. He said that they were taking measures to assess the current status of higher education and universities and discuss the measure required to bring it back on track and push forward as the association is proposing to prepare document to submit to the government.
Prof. Thatikonda Ramesh, Vice Chancellor, KU said that the norms set by NAAC and facilities provided to attain them are far apart. The budget allocation to universities is meagre and not sufficient even to pay salaries. Professor T. Papireddy, former Chairman, TSCHE, urged that higher education is to be tuned up to meet the employment need of the educated youth. Around 200 delegates from different universities, government colleges and teachers unions attended. Prof. V. Ravinder, General Secretary, KURTA summarised the messages of speakers and proposed vote of thanks. Prof M.Erragattu Swamy, Vice President and professor G. Veeranna, Treasurer and Prof. K. Sudhakar conducted the felicitations to the speakers.
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